Although last weeks news of a new police “complaint time line” system in the city is welcoming and City Councilman Adam McFadden deserves his props and kudos for helping to streamline and spearhead a much needed new system, I just hope that the city puts in the same effort, time and resources to overhaul the ineffective process for city residents to comment on officers outstanding job performance.

I mean no disrespect towards Councilman McFadden on this subject because I know all the hard work that he put in towards overhauling the system. I do understand the need for the city to replace the old, ineffective, broken and laughable system that was in place for residents to voice their concerns about the police department.

Heck, I have seen my share of officers who made me not want to trust, cooperate with or respect police officers in general because of their conduct, attitude, choice of language and interactions with people and the way they handled the situations was not that of a police officer. When others and myself tired to voice our frustration and concerns, we got the run around and cold shoulder.

I understand that the city wants to repair the lack of trust between the community and the police department and improving the way resident can voice their concerns is an excellent way to do just that.

Although I feel that there are a hand full of RPD officers who should be either fired or sent right back to the academy for more in-depth training with a focus on sensitivity and diversity training, I do believe that a few bad apples don’t spoil the bunch.

With that said, there are hundreds of RPD officers out there doing an excellent and outstanding job policing our streets, neighborhoods, schools and communities. Their outstanding job performance, actions, relationship skills, behavior, attitude and the way they represent the city, the police department, their uniform and our community deserves to honored and recognized in an more open, dignified, and significant way.

Unfortunately the current process to do so does them a disservice and I feel that if the city wants to really build trust between the community and the police department and get more and more police officers out there policing our city to the best of their abilities and actually giving a crap; then in addition to improving the complaint process, they need to give similar attention and treatment to the way residents can recognize, honor and reward outstanding police officers and their service.

The time line and process to comment on an officer’s outstanding job performance and commitment to our community deserves to be overhauled just as importantly as the complaint timeline system does. This new rewards system should be interactive with the community and include the individual/group/business in the process who felt the need to honor them to make it more impactful and meaningful to the officer(s) involved so that it can also serve as encouragement to other officers on the force who need a little more motivation to do their jobs better.

By overhauling the performance system, it will not only help encourage, breed and build integrity, character, and excellence within the police departments rank and files but it will also help put public trust back into them as well and significantly reduce the number of complaints filed against the police department and its officers.

Do you think the city’s plans to convert St. Paul Street and North Clinton Avenue between the Inner Loop and East Main Street from one-way to two-way traffic next year, at a minimum cost of $1.2 million is an excellent idea for Downtown or a waste of tax dollars?

On Thursday evening, a final session was held by representatives from the city and Laberge Group who was contracted by the city to conduct a study on the feasibility of converting the one-way streets into two-way traffic to improve neighborhood accessibility and walkability. During that session, a study showing how the city might convert those streets into two-way traffic was presented to the community to way in on it. Some key points and pros and cons of completing the conversion I thought was important in considering whether or not to support this project was the following:

Cons

Signing, pavement marking and traffic signals will need to be modified throughout the project area and road geometry changes will be required in some areas.

Continuing the two-way traffic conversion all the way south, past Interstate 490 would bring the total cost to between $1.6 million and $2.8 million.

For bicycle facilities, there are some limited opportunities to provide 14 ft shared use travel lanes. ( So not bicycle friendly)

Loss of on-street parking along N. Clinton Ave.

Pros

The conversion would not cause a significant detriment to traffic operations and would greatly improve driver way-finding, as well as business access within the study area.

Pedestrian mobility will improve slightly with the addition of curb extensions and leading pedestrian intervals at some locations.

Roadway improvements required for two-way conversions are relatively minor, mostly being bulbout (curb extension) additions and removals and reconstruction of some intersection radii.

Potential for a permanent uninterrupted riverfront bicycle trail to accommodate bicyclists traveling through the Center City.

Overall, the study shows that two-way conversion is a feasible option for the both the St. Paul Street/South Avenue and North/South Clinton Avenue corridors. Although it will be costly, challenging in some areas and require extensive changes to the existing roadways, the city should move forward with the project.

Do you think that during these tough economic times and budget difficulties for the city, they should be spending money on elective projects like this?

Or

Do you feel that this is an excellent idea that will enhance Downtown and is worth the estimated $2.8 million price tag?

In my opinion, although this sounds like a great project for Downtown, I feel that the $2.8 million could be better spent on addressing other pressing and more important social, economical and community developmental issues in our city such as education reform, creating jobs for the hundreds of unemployed city residents, fighting truancy, tearing down the hundreds of boarded up houses, crime prevention, funding personal, professional and leadership development opportunities, funding small business, home improvement and small community improvement loans/grants, funding after school programs, funding gang prevention & outreach programs, funding re-entry programs for inmates returning to society (Rochester), funding HIV/AIDS testing/education/outreach in the city and providing opportunities to deter our young adults away from the hard knock city streets and corners.

More importantly, I also criticized them for not being visible on the city streets and in the high crime/violence neighborhoods reassuring City residents and businesses that they are not only here for them but that they are also doing everything within their powers to get a hold of the situation and help keep them safe.

So far, only the Mayor, Police Chief and City Councilman Adam McFadden have been visible during this crisis of enormous magnitude, speaking out on the recent surge in crime and violence during a press conference last Monday and reassuring City residents that they are working on getting this crisis under control. (I commend each of them)

I’m still patiently waiting to hear from the rest of our “so called” elected officials who are all EQUALLY responsible for the safety, upkeep and well being of our City and its resident’s. I encourage all of them to speak up and out on the recent surge in violence and crime that’s been holding our city hostage for the past few months.

Not only does our community need to hear from each of them but they also need to visibly see them out walking and going door to door visiting residents living and working in those high crime neighborhoods. This will help our leaders and law enforcement officers build and foster positive working relationship with the community. It would also show the community that they care about what’s going on in their neighborhoods and are working on solutions to the issues that are destroying them.

I also encourage our leaders to set aside their political differences and stand side-by-side each other and hold joint weekly press conferences to update the community on their progress. City residents and business owners need to also stand up and demand that they do this and hold our leaders accountable if they don’t.

What’s up with the recent spike in shootings, homicides and senseless acts of violence in the City?

It’s like the city has become an unofficial war-zone where it’s not safe to go anywhere or even leave our homes unless you’re wearing a bulletproof vest. It’s sad that people can’t even go out and enjoy a nice evening on the town because you never know when violence is going to strike again.

In just one weekend, we had numerous shootings, stabbings and homicides and it’s not even July or August yet, which is the peak season for violence in Rochester.

City residents, schools, neighborhoods and communities our being held hostage by these young punks, wannabe gangstas and hoodlums running around the city with guns and knives, shooting and stabbing folks.

At least RPD Chief Sheppard has been visible and working overtime to contain the violence and keeping it from spreading neighborhood to neighborhood, which I’m quite sure would happen if he ignored it.

I encourage all city and county leaders to not only be more visible on our streets and in our neighborhoods but to also do more to help get this violence under control and reassure city folks that you are doing everything within your powers to keep our city and its residents SAFE!!!!!!!!!!

No big surprise, but Harry Davis left me a voicemail last night confirming that a lawsuit against the city is in the works. Davis said, “Van White and I have been talking extensively about this and I believe we will be filing a lawsuit soon.”

Davis is running for mayor yet again, and so he may be just the type of plaintiff that would be able to show he’s been harmed by City Council voting to have a special election rather than a fall primary and general. A similar suit was dismissed last week on the grounds that the two plaintiffs couldn’t show they’d been injured or harmed by the council’s actions.

Assuming Davis files his suit, let’s hope the judge acts quickly to get this resolved. Of course, if the judge finds in Davis’s favor, will the city appeal? And vice versa, if Davis loses, would he appeal? This could drag on for months.

The Rochester City Council is holding a public hearing at 6:30 tonight to hear citizen viewpoints on the options for placing Mayor Duffy come January. It will be revealing to see how many truly “average” citizens show up, versus people with special interests who are already backing certain candidates.

The choices are to appoint a mayor for 2011, and hold a primary and general election in the fall; or hold a special election, presumably in the spring. We’ve already editorialized that we favor the special election route, with so many important projects going on, so as not to lose momentum.

The meeting will be in council chambers. I’ll be tweeting from there (@janesutter) so people can follow along if they want.

Last Thursday, I stopped by the Baobab Cultural Center to participate in center’s community dialogue series. The topic for the evening was “Mayoral Succession”. The featured guest speaker was Lovely Warren, Rochester City Council President.

Ms. Warren began by briefly discussing the Council’s next steps. If the Cuomo/Duffy team ascends to the Governor’s Mansion today, the City Council will have 30 days to either appoint an interim mayor or decide to hold a special election. If appointed, the new mayor will serve a one year term, which will be followed by a general election in 2012. If a special election is conducted, the elected mayor serves the remainder of Duffy’s current term and a general election is held in 2013.

Here are some of the ground rules:

An appointed mayor must be from the same party as the existing mayor (Just in case you were wondering why Deputy Mayor Tom Richards changed his party affiliation to Democrat.)

A member of the City Council can not be appointed as mayor.

In a special election, the Democratic, Republican, Working Families, etc. parties select a candidate to run on their party line. Candidates can run without a party affliation if they secure the 1000 signatures needed to be added to the ballot.

Ms. Warren’s position on how the Council should proceed was as clearly articulated as the steps noted above. She is strongly in support of a special election– largely because of the churn that having multiple mayors in such a short time period would create. In her opinion, a rapidly changing leadership team leads to uncertainty that would discourage investment, make it difficult to deal with the city’s current budget crisis, and hinder the delivery of both major development projects and routine services.

Nothing controversial right? The real story of the evening was Lovely herself. I would characterize her as a frank, outspoken woman with strong convictions — who is still working on building the even-tempered presence of a career politician. She spoke with passion about the issues of crime and poverty plaguing the Northeast section of the city. When challenged about the Mortimer Street bus terminal, though, she almost lost her cool.

As the evening came to a close, someone in the audience did ask Lovely if she would run for Mayor in the special election. Her reply was “I have no interest in running”. I can’t wait to find out if her response will be different in 2013.

As discussion heats up over the proposed bus terminal on Mortimer Street in downtown Rochester, the Editorial Board is starting to have meetings with principles involved.

Anthony DiMarzo, CEO of Mark IV Enterprises, has been critical of the plans and will meet with the Editorial Board on Wednesday morning. His Warner building houses upscale loft apartments that will abutt the terminal site. DiMarzo is proposing that RGRTA look at a parking lot at Franklin and Pleasant.

Conspicuously absent from any editorial meetings on the topic is Mark Aesch, head of RGRTA. Aesch has declined numerous invitations to meet with the board, usually claiming there was no news to report. This time, there certainly is news to report (the revised plans from last year’s failed discussion on Ren Square) but Aesch has declined our invitation as has RGRTA board chairman John Doyle.

Given that millions of taxpayer dollars are involved in the project, Aesch, whose salary is paid with public funds, should be willing to answer questions about the project. Two of his staff people explained the proposal at last week’s public forum sponsored by the Rochester City Council.

Aesch and the RGRTA board should have learned from the collapse of Ren Square that there can never be too much pubic communication about the taxpayer funded transit project. There are lots of questions and they need to start answering them.

At last week’s forum, citizens could make comments and ask questions but the format didn’t allow for responses from either the city council or the representatives of the city and RGRTA.

An update:
Jacqueline Halldow, spokeswoman for RGRTA, sent along this response:

There is no reason to believe that the Democrat and Chronicle Editorial Board will treat RGRTA fairly and objectively. There has been no evidence to support that there is not a pre-determined outcome of such a meeting.
In fact, on April 27, 2010 the Editorial Board of the Democrat and Chronicle published an opinion that City Council should insist upon an RTS Customer Advisory Group.
RTS HAS a Customer Advisory Group- above and beyond that -CEO Mark Aesch holds regular Customer Town Meetings where he interacts directly with customers.
Moreover, RTS has a customer communication tool broader than Customer Advisory Groups and Customer Town Meetings. Quarterly, we measure customer satisfaction through the administration of a Customer Satisfaction Survey.
We regularly seek customer input and fold customer opinions into key decision-making. We understand the needs of our customers and serve as their greatest supporters- evidenced by the fact that we actually lowered the fare to just $1.00 in 2008. Rochester was the only public transportation system in the country to have announced and implemented a reduction in fares despite extraordinary market pressures that caused many others in the industry to do the exact opposite.
Our community reaction has been extraordinary. Ridership in Rochester reached a twenty-year high. Even as ridership began to wane and decrease at a national average of 5%, Rochester ridership has remained stable reflecting the retention of the tremendous growth of nearly 11% seen over the course of the 2008-09 fiscal year.
Simply- we do not feel the conversation will be productive.

Interesting, considering the fact that the Editorial Board was a supporter of RenSquare, and repeatedly editorialized last summer urging all parties to try to reach a compromise so as not to lose federal dollars.

At last night’s Rochester city school board meeting, Superintendent Jean-Claude Brizard did a good job making the case for how to turn around the high schools. (Read Nestor Ramos story here.)

But I didn’t see Mayor Duffy there, or his deputy, Patty Malgieri, or any city council people. Maybe I missed them? But if they are so interested in taking over the schools, you would think they’d be there in full force to hear Brizard’s plan. They’re the ones who will have to make sure it’s implemented if mayoral control comes to pass. Of course, Duffy keeps saying Brizard’s his guy. But Brizard’s making a national name for himself, and his contract is up at the end of this year. Contract negotiations should be interesting to watch.

When I attended last night’s Rochester City Council meeting, I was struck by the seemingly inattentiveness of some council members during the public forum portion. Citizens were there to talk primarily about two issues — mayoral control and changes at the Charlotte and Gardiner Avenue fire stations.

Some council members spent time reading documents rather than making eye contact. Sure, they can probably read and listen at the same time. But it takes a certain amount of courage for an average citizen to speak to council, especially in a packed chamber. They deserve council members’ full attention. I’ve noticed the same thing at the Rochester City School Board meetings. It’s rude behavior. After all, citizens pay their salaries and elected them.

There was one speaker who did get council members’ full attention; perhaps it was because he was the last speaker, or perhaps it was because of his message. The Rev. Willie Harvey of Peace Baptist Church spoke about how he participated in the Civil Rights movement; how he, his parents and his cousins “got beat up” because of their determination to have full voting rights; he said Martin Luther King “would turn over in his grave” at the idea of people losing their right to vote for the school board.

Mayor Duffy didn’t sit in on this comment period. He doesn’t normally attend that portion of the council meeting, granted, and he’s pledged to hold public forums on mayoral control, but here the public was in his own building and he missed a good opportunity to hear from them.

The City Council primary results should give citizens, both in the city and county, some hope. The best teams always seem to have a mix of veterans and newcomers and so the new council seems to have both. Back are Carolee Conklin and Dana Miller. Both have proven themselves to be knowledgeable and more than competent. New are Matt Haag, Loretta Scott and Jackie Ortiz. All three impressed the editorial board with their passion, experience in various ways and commitment. Of course it takes a lot more than that to be a good council member. And no doubt the role will end up being even more work and time consuming than what they currently expect. That’s usually the way new jobs are.

Gladys Santiago deserves a good sendoff. She’s worked hard on council since 1996. Mayor Duffy, the council and community leaders should see to it that that happens.

It will be interesting to see who council chooses to be its next president (replacing Santiago) and vice president (Bill Pritchard chose not to run again). The president needs to be someone who’s willing to be proactive, not reactive, and who anticipates the big issues that council must address. I know some people think that the Opinion page has beaten the RenSquare episode to death, and there are plenty of theories about why the proposal didn’t fly after so many years, but let’s hope the new council can make sure they get involved very early in the big issues. Which reminds me, what’s going on with downtown and figuring out Main and Clinton? Haven’t heard a word since the mayor invited a bunch of developers to a meeting.

That’s how Mayor Duffy characterized this morning’s city council meeting, quoting, as he put it, “from that great philosopher Meatloaf.”

The mayor was obviously pleased with the “compromise” that city council approved today on RenSquare, that keeps the bus terminal and new MCC campus as part of the project, but nixes the performing arts center. The council did it their way and they made it clear in remarks before the vote, that they don’t like feeling pushed around by Maggie Brooks and Mark Aesch. No one raved about the what a great project this is, and in general there was a self-congratulatory feeling that council got this done, listened to their constituents, and they hope the FTA approves it so some people can get jobs. (By the way, isn’t that what taxpayers are paying council to do?)

Here’s a sampling of some quotes from the meeting:

“You can’t bring a project to council and tell us you have to approve it.” — Carla Palumbo in reference to Brooks and Aesch.

“If this project is dead, we’ll put Rennaissance Square under the bus so to speak.” She went on to say that if the project dies, council will work with private developers, focus on an intermodel station, etc. — Carolee Conklin.

“I don’t care if we build dog houses as long as we get the jobs.” — John Lightfoot, who has advocated that city residents get jobs with this project.

“It’s their way or the highway.” — Bill Pritchard on the lack of flexibility from Brooks and Aesch.

I don’t understand why it’s taken Rochester City Council so long to schedule a public hearing on Renaissance Square. I attended a council workshop on June 18 where council members heard a presentation on RenSquare, and at that meeting members said they wanted to meet with business owners and citizens. Council did indeed meet with business owners a few weeks later (unfortunately, behind closed doors) but apparently just decided yesterday, in the midst of a meeting with the mayor on RenSquare, to schedule a hearing for tonight.

That leaves little time for citizens to plan to attend. Sure, there’s a handful of citizen activists who have watched closely the RenSquare project over the years. And they’ll probably come tonight. But for the average person, this project only came back to the forefront in the last few weeks as parties raced to meet a federal deadline of July 24.

Council didn’t need to wait this long to ask citizens to weigh in at a public meeting even though plans were still evolving. I’m sure they’ve each heard from constituents, but this hearing tonight is an opportunity for all council members to listen. It’s a shame that the meeting is a last-minute rush job, being held right before council votes on legislation that the mayor says he’s submitting to them today.

Editorial Board

has, for the past 18 years as Editorial Page editor, been responsible for producing more than 5,100 daily Editorial and Speaking Out pages. He started his journalism career in Cleveland shortly after graduating from Howard University in Washington, D.C. Along the way, he has had career stops in Denver, Orlando, Fla., and White Plains. But unquestionably, he says, some of his most rewarding years as a journalist have been here in Rochester, being a part of positive change. That change has included reforms that followed an aggressive "Challenging Albany" campaign, greater public awareness and pushback against the coarsening of our culture, and strides being made to make this region a destination community.

I joined the Democrat and Chronicle in December 2011 as digital opinion editor, a position that combines traditional editorial responsibilities with the fostering and promotion of online conversation across a number of digital platforms and social media.

I bring to the position some 25 years of media experience in the Rochester-Finger Lakes region, having served as managing editor at Messenger Post Media, where I wrote columns, editorials and blogs, among an array of other newsroom duties.

I'm a lifelong New Yorker who has called Long Island, the North Country and, now, western New York home.

When I'm not in a newsroom or in front of a computer, I'm usually enjoying time with family or lost in a book.

became editor of community partnerships and niche content in November 2011, a position new to the Democrat and Chronicle. She is charged with increasing community engagement across all platforms, web and print. Sutter also has served as deputy editorial page editor, managing editor and general manager/custom content at the Democrat and Chronicle. She has worked as a reporter or editor for newspapers in Iowa, Illinois, Florida, South Carolina and Elmira, where she was executive editor of the Star-Gazette. She holds a master's degree in media management and a bachelor of journalism degree from the University of Missouri School of Journalism.

I have been with the Democrat and Chronicle since 2006, when I was hired as letters editor. In 2008, I shifted into the role of community conversation coordinator. Most of my time on the job is spent reading and editing the thousands of letters to the editor we receive each year. I love learning about a wide variety of subjects every day while fact-checking letters. Aside from editing the letters, I also monitor reader comments posted on our website, and write editorials, blog posts and tweets.

I am a lifelong reader of the D&C, so I’m particularly honored to lend my voice to the Editorial Board. As a registered conservative and strong advocate of free market economics, it is likely that I will bring an alternate view to the discussion, so I applaud the D&C for asking me aboard.

My passion about economics and politics first emanated from our family dinner-table discussions growing up in Brighton, where no topic was off limits. After graduating from Brighton High School and then from Middlebury College as an economics major, I started my career with Case Hoyt, a once nationally recognized printing company based in Rochester. I relocated to Philadelphia, Washington and then Boston to attend Harvard Business School before happily moving back home just as my wife and I were starting a family.

I have actively engaged in various volunteer leadership roles at the Wilmot Cancer, St. Thomas More Church and now Rochester Prep Charter School and the Kilian Schmitt Foundation.

Personally, my wife, Caroline, and I have three grown children who have all left the area for college as well as to start their work careers.

I have lived in Rochester, both in the city and the suburbs, for most of my life. I have a degree from Roberts Wesleyan College in religion and philosophy, and I currently work for the Volunteers of America as a case manager for families who receive the Shelter Plus Care housing grant.

I live in the town of Chili with my husband and my sons, Gavin and Troy. Spending time with them is my favorite thing to do. My husband, Scott, owns a small sales and marketing company.

I love Rochester and am actively involved in the community. I serve on several boards and committees, including the Chili Parks and Recreation Committee. Recently I accepted the role of president of the Monroe County Republican Women (a non party-funded organization). Lastly, I am the director of The Bridge, a developing nonprofit that promotes sustainable homeless outreach efforts and organizes bipartisan discussions on issues related to poverty.

I am passionate about seeking out lasting solutions to poverty and bridging the political and cultural gaps. Find me on Twitter (@annaiseman), Facebook, or in future D&C discussions.

Board of Contributors

I manage an educational project for RIT, and teach as an adjunct professor at Nazareth College and the Warner School of Education. In an earlier life, I directed a modern dance company and worked as a teaching artist in schools. I hold a PhD in education with a focus on arts, curriculum and teaching. My areas of interest are education, politics and the arts. I plan to share perspectives on the current changes taking place in the field of education, and have a special interest in political art. I hope to stimulate good discussions in these areas through blogging and guest interviews.

My name is Makenzie Marino and I'm a 16-year-old junior at Our Lady of Mercy High School. I've been writing since I was 7. Writing is my passion; it's the way I express myself and my creativity. As a member of the board I hope to educate people in Rochester on events going on in our area and also bring to people's attention topics that maybe they'd look over otherwise. Also, I hope to learn things myself and be educated by other board members, and by visitors that will be showing up to the meetings. I hope to bring forth positive energy and educate people around me.

I was born and raised in central New York. I earned a bachelor's degree from SUNY Brockport, and now gladly call the Flower City home. I’m a married mother of three young children who keep me on my toes. I write a Blog, From Playgrounds to Politics, which often focuses on hot-button topics as well as about parenting, education, current events, political punditry and entertainment news. I have blogged for the Democrat and Chronicle for several years, focusing local issues and public schools. Follow me on Twitter @Mango1531. As a Board of Contributors member, I hope to write in no-holds-barred style about social topics within our community.

I’m a transplanted New Englander, who has resided with my family in Rochester’s 19th Ward for over 20 years. I left a career in book publishing when I moved from the Boston area, and then got my master’s in education at Nazareth College. I have taught in local schools and am currently an adjunct teacher at The Strong’s National Museum of Play. I write fiction and memoir, volunteer in my neighborhood library, love to travel, coordinate an Exploring Post in health careers, and am a staunch advocate for children.

I retired as Rochester’s commissioner of Community Development in 2009. I’m the co-founder of Eugenio María de Hostos Charter School and serve as the volunteer CEO/chairman of the board. I also serve on five other boards. I was president and CEO of Ibero-American action League from 1993 to 2006. From 1987 to 1990, I owned and operated a Super Duper in the city, and worked briefly as a Spanish teacher. I have a bachelor of science degree in social service administration from SUNY Empire State College and a master’s degree in education from The College at Brockport. I am the author of “Journey of Puerto Rican Jíbaro,” a memoir.

As a life-long resident of Rochester, I am honored and humbled to be selected for the Board of Contributors. It is my hope that through this forum, I will have the opportunity to engage in dialogue that will uplift, inspire and challenge others to contribute to the economic, social, emotional/mental and spiritual health needs of Monroe County’s neediest residents. It is disheartening to me that Rochester is one of the poorest cities in this nation. We all have a part in this universe to offer a hand up and not a hand out. I’m married to my high school sweetheart and we are blessed to share three awesome children.

I work as a shipping and receiving clerk in Rochester. I look forward to being on the Board of Contributors and taking part in discussions of issues facing Rochester in 2014. I intend to add a pragmatic, moderate voice and concentrate on solutions and successes. Beyond the liberal/conservative gridlock there are pragmatic solutions upon which a majority can agree. The moderate majority is not as vocal as extremists to the left and right and this makes moderates easy to ignore. I look forward to being part of the Democrat and Chronicle's effort to contribute to the quality of life in this community.

I grew up in the Rochester area, attended PS35, graduated from Brighton High School, then attended SUNY College at Geneseo and the University of Chicago and earned his PhD at Northwestern University. A lifelong educator, child advocate and bestselling author of books and articles on leadership, collaboration, and education reform, I’ve been a middle school teacher, high school coach, school board member, college professor, dean of education at four universities, distinguished visiting scholar, community-based and regional nonprofit executive, education advisor to Chicago Mayor Harold Washington, member of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission, and associate superintendent of education for the State of Ohio. I currently am vice president for community programs at the Rochester Area Community Foundation.

As an active Community Member on the Democrat and Chronicle Editorial Board in 2013, and a division sales manager of a consumer company prior to that, I hope to stay involved with current events on the Board of Contributors, weighing in with my unique perspective on issues and headlines in 2014. A former United States Marine Corps Officer, and current retired "East Side Suburbanite," I feel that my "conservative-leaning" voice represents a part of the community that deserves to be heard.

I am a lay associate pastor at Spiritus Christi Church and a nurse of 28 years. In my role as associate pastor, I lead racial justice work, welcome new members and facilitate diversity within our ministeries. I am looking forward to being a board contributor so that I might engage in the conversations and topics this community most cares about to forge unity. It is my hope that, together, we join our visions and perspectives to examine what is, and lean in to shape ultimately what could be. If we do that I am hopeful that we will embody the "One City" Rochester mantra we all envision.

I am a third-year journalism and political science student at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Being a native of Rochester has carved within me a passion for urban life and a desire to fully understand the complexity of the many issues Rochesterians face. I care most about education, youth, race and poverty, and have blogged for the Democrat and Chronicle’s Unite Rochester initiative. I am very excited to be offering my voice through the Board of Contributors and I hope to spark some great conversations with the rest of my community.